Sustainability, Business Plan Example

Strategy, Goals and Objectives

Sustainability in any form is, in its most basic form, a way to continually use a resource without permanently depleting it without the possibility for future use (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010). Limited resources that are currently available may not always remain available in the future or if they are available the cost or expense associated with their use may also put them out of the realm of possible utilization. When conducting business, the lifecycle of the business uses resources to produce goods or services that provide a perceived benefit to the customer. The entire process of taking something, whether tangible or intangible, and then configuring, building, reallocating or creating a new good or service requires multiple inputs and the use of limited resources. The organization has a mission. This mission is defined by the organization’s leadership by a mission statement. The mission statement outlines to sole purpose of the organization and why it is in existence. The mission statement is then supported by each level of the organization through the alignment of their goals and objectives. Each goal has a set of objectives that ultimately result in actions by the organization. These actions drive the progress and purpose outlined by leadership. This alignment allows leadership to set a strategic path for the organization and ensure the objectives of the organization push that strategic intent toward execution.

Sustainability

In order to incorporate sustainability efforts into the organization, leadership must infuse the efforts into the strategy of the organization. The purpose of making the sustainability efforts part of the strategy comes in two parts. The first is self-serving in the fact that the organization will be able to reduce the efforts and financial obligations on overhead by eliminating wasteful processes and reducing the use of energy, water and materials. This is a definable and measurable financial benefit that will drive projects to reduce, reuse and recycle where possible. The next is a strategic focus in which the focus is on non-renewal inputs into the business’s product or service lifecycle. These inputs, which are limited, must be fully utilized with a focus on waste. The tools and techniques used by the organization can eliminate wasteful actions and ensure that each resource is effectively and efficiently utilized for maximum capability.

Accountability and Scorecard

In order to ensure the strategy of the organization is being met with the intentions of the leadership there must be a tool to ensure accountability throughout the organization and its partners within the supply chain as well as the customers. This can be accomplished through a scorecard. The scorecard will outline the goals, objectives, projects, metrics and status. This will provide a visual reference for both the project teams working on the objectives as well as leadership to understand where they are within their progress for sustainable efforts (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010). The key aspect of the scorecard is to enable accountability for specific actions, projects and progress of the projects. The sustainability scorecard provides an operational depiction of the sustainability efforts as they relate to the strategic intent outlined by leadership. The mission statement of the organization is aligned with the objectives outlined on the scorecard which flows through the process of who the efforts will be measured and executed as well as their status.

The sustainability scorecard provides the last key operational activity to promote a successful implementation of sustainability projects that are providing the deliverables necessary for the goals and objectives. These results will ensure advancement in the areas of sustainability allowing for the continual progression of the organization and fully utilized resources for the business.

References

Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, D. (2010). Strategic management and business policy, achieving sustainability. (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson College Div.